Container closure



Feb. 21, 1950 s. w. DENNIS 2,497,870

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Jan. 22, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 21, 1950 s.w. DENNIS CONTAINER CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1947 I u I aI I I I I I I I I n I gvvuon o'o Stanley wpennis MmQ m Patented Feb. 21,1950 CONTAINER CLOSURE Stanley W. Dennis, Baltimore,

Md., assignor a Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore,

Md., a corporation oi New York Application January 22, 1947, Serial No.723,630

Claims.

The present invention relates to closures.

More particularly, the closure of the present invention is animprovement on closures of the type shown, described and claimed in anumber of prior patents to G. W. Booth, owned by the assignee of thepresent application, such as Patents 1,956,209, Reissue 19,422,1,956,213, 1,956,214, 1,956,215 and 1,956,217. Certain features of theinvention, however, as regards cap structures, have utility and may beused in connection with caps of other types, as will be apparent fromthe following description and the appended claims.

A primary object of the invention is to overcome certain difiicultieswhich have arisen in connection with the extensive commercial use ofclosures of the type shown in the above mentioned patents. Although suchclosures have been highly successful and have gone into wide commercialuse, some difliculties have been encountered, particularly in attemptsto use them with relatively light weight, thin walled glass containersof the type recently placed on the market for packaging milk and similarproducts. Closures of the type referred to above are applied underrelatively high sealing pressures, to deform the subnew containerstantially flat, ductile metal blanks and iron the I marginal portionsthereof downwardly in close conformity to the sealing bead adjacent themouth of the container. With old style milk bottles, of substantialthickness and strength, these high pressures were unobjectionable, andeffective seals were provided. However, with containers of the type usedby most dairies at the present time, the containers do not havesufficient strength, always to withstand the high capping pressuresrequired with the old style caps, and an excessive amount of breakagehas sometimes been encountered.

Hence the present invention aims to provide a cap of the foregoing typewhich may be employed with the old capping machinery, with minor, if anymodifications thereof, and which may be applied to milk bottles andother containers with as little as only one-fifth of the amount ofpressure required to apply caps of the old style, referred to above,thereby eliminating the breakage of bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap of this type, whichis partially preformed, in the sense that the top surface and a portionof the side wall or skirt are well defined and drawn or otherwisepressed to shape, prior to the application of the cap to the bottle,thereby eliminating the. necessity of drawing, ironing, or otherwiseforming a major portion of the closure skirt from a substantially flatblank, in position on the bottle or other container.

Another object of the invention is to provide 5 preformed closures ofthis type, in accordance with which the nesting of a plurality of suchclosures in a stack will be accurately controlled, by the structure ofthe closure itself, so that the closures will not stick and jam in theclosure feeding mechanism, and will be delivered, one by one, to thecapping mechanism in an improved manner.

A further object is to provide a preformed closure which may bedeposited and centered upon the sealing head of an associated containerwith greater facility than the substantially fiat disc types previouslyused, and which will be retained thereon more securely againstaccidental displacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide structural features in aclosure of the type under consideration which materially increase thestrength of the closure so that lighter and cheaper metals may beemployed in forming the cap.

Another object is to provide a cap structure which facilitates the useof latex and other sealing compositions, deposited in fluid form in theinteriors of metal shells, and prevents the sticking together of aplurality of such caps, when stacked.

To these ends, the skirt or side wall of the closure, between the upperand lower ends thereof is provided with a circumferentially continuousoutwardly and downwardly projecting shoulder or ofiset portion,performing the dual function of controlling the nesting of a pluralityof caps in a stack and increasing the stiffness and strength of the cap.

I A further object of the invention is to provide a partially preformedclosure of the type under consideration, in which the skirt is so formedas to facilitate deformation thereof in securing the closure to abottle, Further, the invention aims to provide a closure having a capskirt, which,

4 when locked in place on a container, will provide a plurality ofregular, evenly spaced, efficient, and neat appearing corrugations orcrimps, avoiding the unsightly, irregular, and inefl'icient crimps whichwould be provided, were not the structure of the present inventionemployed.

In accordance with certain of the patents identifled above, the marginalportions of the discs were provided with radial score lines, to controlthe crimping of the cap skirt, when ironed into place around the lockingbead and under the shoulder of an associated container. Withsubstantially flat discs of the type described in those patents, thatsystem was entirely satisfactory, but with a partially preformed cap,having a narrow horizontally extending flange of the type provided bythe present invention, such score lines do not satisfactorily performthe intended function, since there is insufficient further contractionof the flange, during the flnal ironing or crimping operation, to affordan opportunity for the score lines to control the fiuting orcorrugations in the cap skirt as finally applied.

In accordance with the present invention, the horizontally extendingflange, at the lower end of the preformed cap skirt is provided with aplurality of corrugations, extending from the line of junction of theflange with the skirt, outwardly to the outer margin of the flange, andthese corrugations have special structural features, as explained below,which facilitate the final locking of the closure to the receptacle.

A further object is to provide a cap which may be more readily removedfrom the associated container than prior caps and without any permanentdistortion, and which may be re-applied to the container more readily toprovide an improved re-seal. The special form of corrugations or pleatsformed at the lower end of the skirt lie under the rounded portion ofthe locking ring or finish around the mouth of the container, after thecap has been applied thereto by conventional capping machines. When thecap is removed, the surface of the glass finish exerts a camming actionon the pleats or corrugations and tends to spread or open them somewhat,but, after the cap has been removed, the corrugations tend to return tothe positions to which they were bent during the cap applying operation.In this position, they serve as reinforcing elements for the portion ofthe cap skirt thereabove and prevent accidental damage or distortionthereof. Moreover, they readily snap back under the locking ring, whenthe cap is re-applied, by hand,

to the container. The improved re-seal feature of the present inventionand the reinforcing function of the corrugations at thelower edge of thecap skirt are important advantages of the new cap.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the following description ofcertain specific embodiments, shown in the accompanying drawings forpurposes of illustration, and described below.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cap in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical, axial section of a pair of such caps, in nestedrelation, in a stack.

Figure 3a is a fragmentary side elevation of the I can skirt on anenlarged scale.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary halfsection of the cap of Figures1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a similar section of a modified form.

Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the flange of the cap.

The cap of the present invention may be made from a laminated sheet,consisting of a metal layer I0 and a paper layer ll adhesively unitedthereto, as explained in the above mentioned patents. The cap comprisesa circular top H, a depending skirt i3; and a horizontally extendingflange IA. The skirt l3 includes an upper, gently rounded portion l5shaped to conform closely to the standard cross-sectional curve of thelockin bead orflnish formed on milk bottles of the type with which thecaps of the above identified patents are adapted to be used. The skirt13 also includes a lower, substantially cylindrical portion I6,connected at its upper end to the upper portion l5 by a downwardly andoutwardly inclined shoulder or offset portion I'I, extendingcontinuously, circumferentially around the skirt.

At its lower end, the skirt joins the flange it along a circularcircumferentially continuous, non-corrugated line or corner I8, lying ina single plane parallel to the plane of the top I2.

The flange H includes a plurality of horizontal, radially outwardlyprojecting straight line sections 22, (of a width indicated at 24 inFigures 3a. and 6) extending from the line of junction ll with the capskirt, outwardly to the outer margin IQ of the flange, and a pluralityof intermediate corrugations 23, of a width indicated at 26 inFigures-3a and 6. It should be noted that the corrugations are ofprogressively increasing depth from their inner ends adjacent the lineof junction l8, to their outer ends at the outer margin I9 of theflange, and are also of progressively increasing width from their innerends to their outer ends. Moreover, the corrugations each projectupwardl from the plane of the radial, straight line portion 22 of thecap skirt. A preferred manner in which the straight line radial sections22 and the intermediate corrugations 23 may be formed is shown,described, and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 12,803,filed March 3, 1948.

The offset portion or shoulder I1, between the upper and lower skirtsections l5 and I6 performs the dual function of increasing thestiffness and strength of the skirt or side wall and controlling thenesting of a plurality of such caps, as indicated in Figure 3. Theoffset, it may be noted, as indicated by the space 25 (Figure 4), issubstantially equal to the thickness of the sheet material of which thecap is made.

The preformed corrugations in the flange I4 control the crimping of theflange, when the latter is forced downwardly beneath the lockingshoulder of the associated container, with the result that the crimpsare equally spaced, com pletely around the cap and no areas of weakness,which might result from unduly widely spaced crimps, are formed. It willbe understood that the line of junction l8 between the flange and theskirt is positioned substantially opposite to the line of maximumdiameter of the locking bead on the container, and that the flange I4 isforced under the locking shoulder, during the application of theclosure, as explained in the above patents.

The form of closure shown in Figure 5 is similar to the one justdescribed, and differs therefrom primarily in that the cap is made froma single layer of sheet metal 10', instead of from a laminated,composite sheet of metal and paper. Instead of using an overall layer ofpaper to provide the sealing contact with the bead surrounding the mouthof the container, a ring ll of a latex composition, or other sealingcompound, is employed. The sealing material, while in fluid condition,is applied to the interior of the cap, in an annular layer, extendingaround the downwardly curved portion l5, thereof and terminating shortof the circumferential shoulder I'I'.

Caps of this type nest in a stack, in substantially the same manner asshown in Figure 3, with the result that the layer of sealing compositionl I in one cap is maintained out of contact with all portions of the captherebelow, and the caps in the stack have no tendency to stick togetherwhile being fed to a capping machine.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to thedetails as to cap structure described above and shown for purposes ofillustration in the accompanying drawings, but includes allmodifications coming within the scope of the appended claims andtheirequivalents.

I claim:

1. A container closure formed from a sheet of ductile material,comprising a substantially flat top having a circular marginal portionmerging directly into a downwardly rounded, gently curved upper skirtportion, a lower skirt portion of greater diameter thanthe upper skirtportion, a circumferentially continuous offset shoulder connecting theupper and lower skirt portions and an outwardly extending, corrugatedlocking flange at the lowerend of the lower skirt portion, the innerdiameter of the lower portion being substantially equal to the outerdiameter of the upper portion, whereby the nesting of a plu-- rality ofclosures in a stack is controlled, with the lower edge of the skirt ofone closure relatively snugly encircling the upper skirt portion of theclosure therebelow and seated upon the shoulder of the latter.

2. A container closure in accordance with claim 1 characterized in thatthe upper skirt portion, below the downwardly rounded corner, includes acylindrical section extending downwardly to the shoulder and in that thelower skirt portion below the shoulder includes a cylindrical section ofgreater height than the first mentioned cylindrical section extendingdownwardly to the flange.

3. A container closure formed from a sheet of ductile material,comprising a substantially flat top, an upper skirt portion connecteddirectly to the margin thereof by a downwardly rounded corner, a lowerskirt portion of greater diameter than, and of a height at least asgreat as the upper skirt portion, a circumferentially continuous,outwardly projecting, offset shoulder connecting the upper and lowerportions, and an outwardly extending flange at the lower end of thelatter portion, the inner diameter of the lower portion beingsubstantially equal to the outer diameter of the upper portion, wherebythe nest,- ing of a plurality of closures in a stack is controlled, withthe lower edge of the skirt of one closure relatively snugly encirclingthe upper skirt portion of the closure therebelow and seated upon theshoulder of the latter, said flange having a plurality of radiallyextending corrugations, extending from the outer margin of the flangeinwardly only to a circular line of junction with the skirt, said linelying in a single plane parallel to the plane of said flat top.

4. A container closure formed from sheet material, comprising asubstantially flat top, a substantially cylindrical upper skirt portionconnected directly to the margin thereof by a downwardly rounded gentlycurved corner, a substantially cylindrical lower skirt portion ofgreater diameter than, and of a height at least as great as the upperskirt portion, a circumferentially continuous oflset shoulder connectingthe upper and lower portions, and an outwardly extending flange at thelower end of the latter portion, said flange having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced, horizontally and radially extending straightline sections and a corresponding number of axially deflected sectionstherebetween, the axially deflected sections being of maximum depth atthe outer margin of the flange and of progressively decreasing depthradially inwardly thereof, merging with the radial sections into thelower skirt portion along a substantially continuous circular line ofjunction lying in a single plane parallel to-the top, the inner diameterof the lower skirt portion being substantially equal to the outerdiameter of the upper skirt portion, whereby the nesting of a pluralityof closures in a stack is controlled with the lower edge of the lowerskirt portion of one closure, at the circular line of junction with theflange, encircling the upper skirt portion of the closure therebelow andseated upon the shoulder of the latter.

5. A container closure comprising a flat, circular top, an imperforatedepending skirt and an outwardly extending, corrugated locking flange atthe lower end of the skirt, said top being marginally connected to theskirt by a downwardly rounded, gently curved portion, said skirtcomprising an upper portion merging with said curved portion, acircumierentially continuous, downwardly extending shoulder projectingoutwardly at the lower end of said skirt portion a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of the material of the skirt,,and alower substantially cylindrical portion of a height at least as great assaid upper portion depending from the outer end of the shoulder andconnected at its lower end to said flange by a circumferentiallycontinuous, outwardly turned corner, said shoulder being adapted tocontrol the nesting of a plurality of said closures in a stack, with thelower cylindrical skirt portion of one closure snugly encircling theupper skirt portion of the closure therebelow, and with said outwardlyturned corner of the upper closure supported upon the shoulder ofthelatter.

STANLEY W. DENNIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis, patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,422 Booth Jan. 15, 1935619,603 Northall Feb. 14, 1899 777,168 Wood Dec. 13, 1904 888,995 GodmanMay 26, 1908 922,779 Kirkegaard May 25, 1909 934,072 Hicks Sept. 14,1909 955,380 Calleson Apr. 19, 1910 1,131,676 Cake Mar. 16, 19151,257,992 Gavaza Mar. 5, 1918 1,744,444 Carvalho Jan. 21, 1930 1,745,929Grimmeisen Feb. 4, 1930 1,956,215 Booth Apr. 24, 1934 1,956,217 BoothApr. 24, 1934 2,048,062 Elder July 21, 1936 2,186,519 Buono Jan. 9, 19402,345,876 Kohrtz Apr. 4, 1944

